Best Elementary Schools in Renton, WA

Choosing where to buy a home when you have young children almost always starts with one question: which are the best elementary schools in Renton WA? We hear it from nearly every family we work with, and the answer shapes where they search, what they can afford, and ultimately where they put down roots. This guide breaks down the top-rated elementary schools in Renton, WA, neighborhood by neighborhood, so you can match school quality with the right home and the right price point for your family.

At The Rache Team, we have spent over 26 years helping families buy homes across Renton and the Eastside. We know that school ratings are just one piece of the puzzle. Enrollment numbers, special programs, neighborhood character, and what homes actually cost near each campus all matter when you are making a decision this important. This is your practical playbook for understanding the best elementary schools in Renton WA and how they connect to the neighborhoods we serve.

What Should Families Know About Renton School District 403 Before Choosing?

Before diving into individual schools, it helps to understand the district as a whole. Renton School District 403 serves approximately 15,400 students across 31 schools, spanning more than 33 square miles. The district covers most of Renton plus portions of Newcastle, Bellevue, Kent, Tukwila, and unincorporated King County, including Bryn Mawr-Skyway.

The district is one of the most diverse in Washington state. Student demographics break down to 24.7 percent Asian and Pacific Islander, 28.2 percent Hispanic and Latino, 14.1 percent Black, and 20.9 percent White, with total minority enrollment at 80 percent. Per-pupil spending sits at $24,195, which is above the national average. More than 80 percent of certificated staff have five or more years of higher education, and two-thirds hold advanced degrees.

One standout benefit for families thinking long-term: the Renton Promise program provides free tuition at Renton Technical College for all district graduates, regardless of which school they attended. That is a meaningful incentive that adds value to buying within the district boundaries.

Best Elementary Schools in Renton WA: The Comparison Table

This table gives you a side-by-side look at the best elementary schools in Renton WA based on GreatSchools ratings, along with the neighborhoods they serve, approximate median home prices in those areas, and any special programs worth noting.

As you can see, the best elementary schools in Renton WA are concentrated in the eastern and northern parts of the city. That geographic pattern has a direct impact on home prices, which we will break down neighborhood by neighborhood below.

Maplewood Heights Elementary: Best Elementary Schools Renton WA at the Top

Maplewood Heights Elementary earns a perfect 10 out of 10 on GreatSchools, making it one of the best elementary schools in Renton WA by any measure. The school serves the East Renton Highlands area and consistently posts top student progress scores, meaning students are growing academically at rates that outpace state averages.

The neighborhood around Maplewood Heights features newer construction, larger homes, and a suburban feel with wider streets and well-maintained properties. The trade-off is price. The median home price in East Renton Highlands sits around $987,000, which is the highest in the Renton market. Families who prioritize school ratings above all else often gravitate here, and competition for homes near Maplewood Heights stays strong year-round.

Maplewood Heights feeds into Risdon Middle School and then Hazen High School, which ranks first in the district according to Niche. For families mapping out the full K-12 path, this feeder pattern is one of the strongest in Renton. See our Renton school feeder map for the complete picture.

Apollo Elementary: A Perfect 10 Near the Newcastle Border

Apollo Elementary also holds a 10 out of 10 GreatSchools rating, and it is one of the best elementary schools in Renton WA for families who want top academics in a quieter, eastside-adjacent setting. Located at 15025 SE 117th St, Apollo serves the far eastern edge of Renton near the Newcastle border.

This location is significant for buyers. Homes near Apollo Elementary benefit from proximity to Newcastle amenities and parks while remaining within Renton School District boundaries and Renton property tax rates. Median home prices in this area range from $850,000 to $950,000, depending on lot size, age, and proximity to the I-405 corridor.

One detail worth noting: addresses near the 148th Ave SE corridor and Coal Creek area may actually fall within the Issaquah School District rather than Renton. We always recommend verifying your boundary assignment before making an offer, and our team is happy to help with that confirmation.

Sartori Elementary: Best Elementary Schools Renton WA for Value

Sartori Elementary carries a 9 out of 10 GreatSchools rating and serves central-north Renton. For families searching for the best elementary schools in Renton WA at a more accessible price point, Sartori represents one of the strongest value plays in the district.

Homes near Sartori typically fall in the $650,000 to $720,000 range, which is below the Renton citywide median of $764,000. That means you can land near a top-performing elementary school without stretching into the East Highlands price bracket. The neighborhood offers a mix of mid-century homes and some newer construction, with reasonable lot sizes and straightforward access to downtown Renton amenities.

Sartori consistently performs above average on state assessments, and the school benefits from a diverse student body that mirrors the broader district demographics. For families who want strong academics paired with an authentic, community-oriented neighborhood, Sartori belongs on your list.

Hazelwood Elementary: Best Elementary Schools Renton WA in the Highlands

Hazelwood Elementary holds an 8 to 9 out of 10 GreatSchools rating and is one of the best elementary schools in Renton WA within the Highlands area. Parents consistently give it 4.5 stars in reviews, praising the school’s community atmosphere and teacher engagement.

The school serves portions of Renton Highlands, where the median home price sits around $698,000. That is well below the citywide median and significantly below the East Highlands numbers. For families who want a well-rated school without the premium pricing, Hazelwood offers an appealing combination.

Hazelwood was one of six elementary schools affected by boundary adjustments in August 2023. If you are looking at homes in the Renton Highlands neighborhood, we recommend confirming your current boundary assignment, as some addresses shifted during that process.

Briarwood Elementary: Best Elementary Schools Renton WA in Kennydale

Briarwood Elementary earns an 8 out of 10 GreatSchools rating and serves the Kennydale area of Renton. Kennydale sits along the western side of the city near Lake Washington, offering a mix of mid-century ramblers and updated homes with a neighborhood feel that many families find appealing.

Median home prices near Briarwood generally fall in the $750,000 to $800,000 range. The neighborhood provides solid access to I-405 for Bellevue commuters and proximity to Gene Coulon Memorial Beach Park, which is a major draw for families with young children.

Briarwood performs above average across core subjects and feeds into the Hazen High School zone, giving families a consistent K-12 path through some of the district’s stronger schools.

Talbot Hill Elementary: Best Elementary Schools Renton WA for STEM

Talbot Hill Elementary carries a 5 out of 10 overall GreatSchools rating, which puts it below the schools listed above. However, we include it here because Talbot Hill ranks in the top 25 percent for STEM outcomes, and that distinction matters to families with children who gravitate toward science and math.

The Talbot Hill, Renton neighborhood offers some of the most accessible home prices in the city, with medians typically falling between $600,000 and $680,000. Talbot Hill feeds into Dimmitt Middle School and then Renton High School, which is the only International Baccalaureate school in the district.

For families who value a specific program strength over an overall rating number, Talbot Hill is worth a closer look. The STEM focus, combined with the IB pathway at Renton High, creates a K-12 track that supports academically motivated students even when the elementary rating does not tell the full story.

Discovery School: The Choice Alternative for Best Elementary Schools Renton WA

Discovery School operates as Renton School District’s choice and option school, meaning families from anywhere in the district can apply regardless of their home address. This is an important option for buyers who find a home they love in a neighborhood where the assigned elementary school does not meet their expectations.

Discovery follows an alternative educational model with its own feeder pattern. Admission is subject to capacity and requires a separate application process. The school appeals to families looking for project-based learning, smaller community feel, or simply a different approach from their neighborhood school.

Because Discovery is open to all district residents, it effectively decouples school quality from home location. That flexibility is worth factoring into your home search, especially if you are comparing neighborhoods where the assigned school ratings differ significantly from each other.

How School Zones Connect to Renton Neighborhoods

Understanding the best elementary schools in Renton WA is only half the equation. The other half is knowing which neighborhoods feed into those schools and what homes cost in each area. Here is a quick reference connecting the dots.

The Hazen High School zone captures most of the top-rated elementary schools, including Maplewood Heights, Hazelwood, Highlands, and Cascade. This zone covers Renton Highlands, Kennydale (east side), and East Renton Highlands. If school ratings are your top priority, this zone deserves the most attention.

The Renton High School zone includes Talbot Hill, Tiffany Park, Campbell Hill, Lakeridge, and Bryn Mawr elementaries. Ratings here are more mixed, but the IB program at Renton High adds long-term value. Home prices in this zone tend to be the most accessible in the city.

The Lindbergh High School zone covers Skyway-West Hill, Bryn Mawr, and southwest Renton. Elementary ratings vary, and this zone reflects the deep diversity of the Skyway-West Hill, Renton community. Homes here are often the most affordable in the district.

For a full visual of how these zones work, our Renton school feeder map for homebuyers lays out every elementary-to-middle-to-high-school pathway. And for families also evaluating high schools, our guide to Renton high schools compares Hazen, Renton High, and Lindbergh in detail.

How Do You Verify School Boundaries Before Making an Offer in Renton?

One of the most common mistakes we see families make is assuming a home falls within a certain school boundary without confirming it. Renton School District updated boundaries for six elementary schools in August 2023, and some shifts were significant enough to change feeder patterns in the Highlands area.

Additionally, homes near the eastern edge of Renton along the Newcastle border may fall within the Issaquah School District rather than Renton. That distinction can change everything about your child’s school experience, so verification is not optional.

We recommend using the Renton School District boundary tool online or calling the district office directly. Better yet, reach out to us. We verify boundaries as a standard part of our buyer consultation process because we have seen how much this one detail matters to families with school-age children.

What the Ratings Do Not Tell You About Best Elementary Schools Renton WA

GreatSchools ratings are a useful starting point, but they do not capture everything that makes a school the right fit for your child. A few things to consider beyond the numbers.

Student progress matters as much as proficiency. Maplewood Heights earns its 10 out of 10 partly because students show exceptional growth over time. A school with a lower overall rating but strong progress scores may be doing an excellent job of meeting students where they are and moving them forward.

Diversity is a real asset. With 80 percent minority enrollment district-wide, Renton schools offer the kind of cultural exposure that many suburban districts cannot match. For families who value that experience, the best elementary schools in Renton WA offer something that test scores alone do not measure.

Community and teacher quality vary within ratings. Hazelwood Elementary’s 4.5-star parent reviews reflect a level of satisfaction that its numerical rating alone might not suggest. Visiting schools, talking to current parents, and attending open houses gives you information that no website can provide.

Find Your Family’s Ideal Neighborhood Near the Best Elementary Schools Renton WA

The connection between school quality and neighborhood choice is one of the most important factors in any family home search. Whether you are drawn to the top-rated academics near Maplewood Heights, the value play near Sartori, or the STEM focus at Talbot Hill, the best elementary schools in Renton WA each offer something distinct. Your job is to figure out which combination of school quality, home price, commute, and neighborhood character works for your family.

We built this guide to give you a clear, honest starting point. For deeper dives into individual neighborhoods, explore our guides to Renton Highlands, Renton, The Landing and South Renton, Talbot Hill, Renton, and Skyway-West Hill, Renton.